Finnish brewery creates quirky beer for Trump-Putin summit
Helsinki (AP) – A small Finnish craft brewery is paying a humorous tribute to the Helsinki summit. RPS Brewing issued a limited-edition lager depicting cartoon U.S. and Russian presidents on its label, with text for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin saying “Let’s Settle This Like Adults” and “Making Lager Great Again.” The beer has been in high demand since it hit the shelves nationwide a few days ago and the whole 10,000-bottle lot had been sold out ahead of the summit. Samples have also been delivered to the U.S. and Russian embassies in Helsinki. CEO Samuli Huuhtanen told The Associated Press on Saturday that “a couple of good beers can help any negotiations,” especially if followed by a visit to a Finnish sauna.
Arizona man arrested after trying
to pull over troopers
Phoenix (AP) – Arizona authorities say a 44-year-old uniformed security guard is accused of impersonating a police officer by trying to pull over an unmarked car that happened to contain two state troopers patrolling a Phoenix freeway. The Department of Public Safety says Matthew Allen Disbro of Mesa was driving his personal black Dodge Charger on Wednesday when he activated law-enforcement-style emergency lights on his car to pull over the troopers’ yellow Ford Mustang. According to the department, the troopers wouldn’t pull over, Disbro then drove alongside, yelled and waved a hand at the troopers to get them to pull over before they activated their own vehicle’s police lights and pulled him over. Court records don’t list an attorney for Disbro who could comment on the allegations.
German town to hold lottery for coveted graveyard plots
Berlin (AP) – Quiet neighbors, pristine grounds and a view to die for: No wonder graveyard plots in Berchtesgaden are in high demand. The German news agency dpa reported Saturday that the picturesque town in the Bavarian Alps is now taking the unusual step of holding a lottery for vacant spaces in its cemetery. For years, authorities had to turn down applicants hoping to secure a final resting place in the 17th-century graveyard due to lack of space. With 200 new plots being created from unused spaces, the town has decided to stage a lottery Wednesday to ensure that everyone has an equal chance of getting a place in the cemetery. About 280 people have applied.
Rapper buys every seat in house,
takes strangers to movies
Portland, Maine (AP) – A Maine rapper surprised moviegoers with free tickets to a sci-fi satire movie. Rory Ferreira, who goes by the stage name Milo, bought all 129 seats to the 4:20 p.m. showing of the movie “Sorry to Bother You” at the Nickelodeon in Portland, Maine, on Saturday. The Portland Press Herald reports employees told patrons they could see a movie for free as they arrived at the theater. Ferreira says he was inspired by the movie’s director, Boots Riley, to do something good for society. Ferreira, of Biddeford, also attended the movie, and tweeted an invite for anyone interested to “catch a flick wit me.” The movie follows the story of a black telemarketer who takes on white speaking mannerisms to try to succeed at his job.
Rhode Island governor to hold
office hours at the beach
Providence, R.I. (AP) – Rhode Island’s governor says she’s holding summer office hours at the beach. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo (ray-MAHN’-doh) will hold the first event Monday at Scarborough State Beach in Narragansett. She’ll be joined by members of her Office of Constituent Services to help connect residents with various services. While there, she plans to sign an executive order to reduce reliance on single-use plastics that can end up in the state’s waters. Raimondo says she looks forward to hosting office hours and hearing directly from residents at some of the state’s most popular destinations. She plans to go to Lincoln Woods State Park on Aug. 3.
